CHICAGO— A drunk United Airlines (UA) business class passenger voluntarily deplaned a flight from Denver (DEN) to London Heathrow (LHR) after being denied immediate alcohol service last week.
The passenger, allegedly a 2.5 million miler, became disruptive over the refusal and left the United flight before takeoff, preventing delays and avoiding further repercussions.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrUnited Drunk Passenger Leaves Flight
The incident unfolded onboard a United Airlines (UA) international flight preparing to depart from Denver International Airport (DEN) to London Heathrow (LHR).
A visibly intoxicated business class passenger reportedly demanded alcohol before departure, ranting about his loyalty status and claiming others had already begun drinking.
Fellow passengers noted the man loudly berated the crew, insisting he would not fly with an airline that denied his drink request.
Despite escalating tensions, the situation did not result in forced removal. Instead, the man loudly gathered his belongings and exited the aircraft voluntarily.
This unusual self-deportation likely helped the flight avoid delays or an official airline ban. Although he threatened lawsuits and declared he would never fly United again, observers on the flight said the rest of the cabin remained silent, seemingly relieved he followed through and left.
Photo: By Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – N27957 United Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner s/n 36409, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62340180Avoiding a Ban and Delays
In many similar incidents, intoxicated passengers must be forcibly removed, often leading to legal issues, travel delays, and permanent bans from the airline involved.
In contrast, this case ended without such complications due to the passenger’s decision to leave on his own.
Reports suggest the individual may have had enough awareness—or experience—to know that voluntary deplaning carries fewer consequences. While his behavior was widely criticized, his actions likely spared the flight crew and passengers from a prolonged and disruptive ordeal.
Photo: UnitedA Sobering Commentary on Flying While Intoxicated
This episode reflects a broader issue facing airlines worldwide: intoxicated passengers disrupting flights, particularly in premium cabins.
The anonymous witness described the incident as both absurd and saddening, pointing out that the man prioritized alcohol over a transatlantic journey.
Although the passenger claimed he would abandon United for good, it remains unclear if the airline will impose a future ban. As a frequent flyer based in Denver, the benefits of maintaining United loyalty could outweigh the short-lived outrage that triggered this event.
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The post Drunk United Business Class Passenger Leaves Denver to London Flight Before Takeoff appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
